Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has gone on record to praise the backing that the team receives from The Green Brigade.
Ever since former referee and match commander Eddie Smith reported the fans to a UEFA delegate during the Celtic-Rennes match the Green Brigade have taken a pasting from traditional media happy to pin the blame for everything bar the global recession on the most vocal element of the Celtic support.
Celtic face a charge of illicit chanting from UEFA but after praising the support yesterday it looks certain that the club will put up a vigorous defence of their fans in front of UEFA with Wednesday’s match with Atletico Madrid the perfect stage to show the Celtic support at it’s vocal best- against the hackers that booted Jimmy Johnstone, Dixie Deans and co out of the 1974 European Cup Final.
“It was important, first and foremost, that we won the game today,” Lawwell told the official Celtic website. “But the manner of the victory made for a very enjoyable day.
“When you consider just how bad the weather conditions were, it was tremendous to have so many fans making the journey here for the game.
“I´d like to thank them for their efforts, and also for the way in which they backed the team. It made for a great afternoon, and you could see that the players thrived on that sort of backing.
“The vocal support from the Green Brigade and, indeed, the entire support in the stadium, was impressive. In the same way, the performance of the team added to the atmosphere and it was obvious the fans enjoyed what they saw.
“We´re in the middle of a good run of results and I know that Neil and his team will be looking to continue that on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid. That is going to be a very difficult match, but the players will go into that game knowing that they will get magnificent backing from our supporters.
“I´d like to thank all our fans for the way in which they back the team, and I’d also like to thank, in particular, the Celtic Supporters´ Association, the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters´ Club, the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters´ Clubs and the Celtic Trust for their co-operation over the past few weeks.”
The last reference was in relation to recent events involving Strathclyde Police and the ill thought out Offensive Behaviour Bill that Alex Salmond is trying to force through the Scottish Parliament.
Following a peaceful rally against the legislation in George Square police activity around the Green Brigade in section 111 had increased leading to complaints from various sections of the Celtic support.
A planned meeting with Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan was called off by the fans’ groups after a number of briefings were given to the Daily Record in the campaign to demonise the Celtic support.
On Friday, without advance publicity the fans’ groups met with ACC Corrigan with the police presence at yesterday’s 5-0 win over St Mirren noticeably reduced.
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For once, I couldn’t agree more with Mr Lawell.
Good to hear…The silence is deafening from the gutter hacks this morning about it though….surprise surprise 🙂
Refreshing to see the club officially back the green brigade who again were magnificent.
Credit to the CSA for facing up to outrageous police tactics & acc corrigan
Hail Hail.
Thank god for the green brigade.
They are helping to bring the buz back to paradise.
Wish the rest of us would follow the green brigades example.
Celtic park would once again become the forttress it once was not that long ago.
Let the people sing Peter, let the people sing!!! The lullabies, the battle cries, the song of hope and joy! None of them, illegal, illicit or sectarian!!! The club must protect what’s right!!!
As the banner says, “Our music has survived through famine and oppression!”.
It must survive the vile oppression being placed on it by this current Scottish Government!!!
I was at yesterdays game, having travelled over from Ireland. I can say, without a doubt that celtic park would be dead without them.
Between them and the Jock Stein stand yesterday, there was an amazing atmosphere created, to which I was proud to be a part,.
It is refreshing to finally see the board standing up for our fans, our culture and our traditions.
was at the game the green brigade were worth the entry alone the backing they gave the team was brill keep it going ill be back again hail hail
The green brigade are fantastic. Don’t think it really matters now what the Mankie Scottish media say anymore there totally irrelevant.
Well said Peter Lawwell back the Bhoys.